Residents question referendum

Ninety Six school district meeting heats up

February 28, 2007

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

NINETY SIX — What was billed as an informational forum about the school district referendum turned into a clash of ideas and heated questions Monday night.
Officials discussed, and in some cases tried to drown out, questions about a possible $35 million referendum for 25 years going on the ballot next Tuesday for a new high school and renovations to turn the old high school into a middle school.
Amy Hilley, chairwoman for Better Education in the Ninety Six School District, and Ninety Six resident Matt Galphin’s voices rose during their discussions about the referendum during most of the meeting, with Galphin dominating most of the comments from residents and Hilley often asking him to stop talking until the presentation was done.
It was in stark contrast to how the meeting began.
“Hopefully, when you leave here this evening, you will have enough information to make an informed decision when you go to the voting booth to have your voice heard on March 6,” Hilley said.
Galphin, along with other residents, was mainly concerned about how taxes would be raised if the referendum passed.
He argued with Rodney Smith, director of finance for the district, about how difficult Smith was making the tax increase sound in his presentation.
Galphin said the taxpayers would pay an extra $500 for a $100,000 house under the referendum, which Smith agreed was about right.
“There is no doubt, it is going to cost,” Smith said.
Smith didn’t know how much city taxes were going to be affected by the referendum.
Hilley, Smith and Superintendent Dan Powell spent much of their individual presentations trying to answer questions from previous forums, including one on Feb. 21.
The high school and middle schools are inadequate in many ways, having weak power supplies for computers, portable buildings for classrooms and sewer backups on rainy days, Powell said.
Building a new middle school instead of a high school would leave high schoolers without a place to park their cars. Powell warned that if the referendum fails, school board members could legally use 8 percent of their property costs to build the new high school anyway, with the $2.5 million cost about the same as the referendum.
Hilley also suggested legislators would find it harder to attempt consolidating Greenwood’s three school districts with a new high school.
The new high school’s current plan includes an X-shape building with more than 160,000 square feet, almost four times the size of the current high school.
Some residents thought the school’s larger size was overkill.
“That’s not even hand grenade range,” Galphin said. “That’s nuclear bomb range.”
Galphin suggested the school wasn’t going to be used for the children of Ninety Six residents, but for those outside of town, whose parents wouldn’t have to pay the increased taxes.
Hilley said details about the high schools can be changed after the referendum, depending on the input of residents. Powell said the space was needed for future growth and for more advanced technology.

Thornwell schools to close at year’s end

February 28, 2007

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

CLINTON — Thornwell Home & School for Children will close at the end of this school year, according to a letter posted on the school’s Web site.
Robert W. “Skip” Stansell Jr. said the closing of Thornwell Middle and High School and Hartness-Thornwell Elementary School was necessary to balance the children’s home’s budget.
“The decision to restructure programs will ensure the preservation of Thornwell’s historic ministry of residential care and Christian nurture for abandoned, abused and neglected children,” he said in the letter.
Thornwell was founded on Oct. 1, 1875, and built by the Rev. William Plumer Jacobs, then-pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Clinton, with eight children orphaned by the Civil War, according to the home’s Web site.
The home has about 80 children and youth.
Children will begin attending Laurens School District 56 public schools in August, along with getting special academic support at Thornwell.
The Thornwell Board of Trustees has worked since November 2005 to examine its options for funding the private school, child development center and LushAcres Farm, according to the letter.
“This has been a difficult time for everyone associated with Thornwell,” Stansell said.
The board has been considering plans for restructuring for about a year. The school closing and restructure of other programs will result in the loss of 43 full-time faculty and staff and additional part-time positions, according to the letter.
Stansell said the layoffs would be done “with compassion and consideration for the individuals who are affected.”
Thornwell’s budget must be balanced so it can continue providing community-based services across South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, he said. Thornwell has begun preparing for the closing with an academic support team led by Norman Dover, principal of Hartness-Thornwell Elementary School.
Dover and his team will help plan and provide any academic support Thornwell’s children need during the transition to the public schools.
“We will work with the administration and faculties of the district schools to ensure that our children have the best possible educational experience,” Stansell said, according to the letter.
While the schools themselves might close, the buildings might have children learning in them again.
A local committee continues to consider opening a charter school that would use Thornwell’s buildings, but a delay in the appeals process will not allow a school to open by August, according to the letter.
Thornwell’s board voted in December to close the milking operation on LushAcre Farm. The remaining farm operation will be managed on a limited basis and will be best used to provide a farm experience for the children of Thornwell.

Obituaries

Henry P. Andrews

Henry P. Andrews, 77, of 202 Boulware Drive (Promised Land Comm.), husband of Lillie Bell Terry Andrews, passed away Feb. 25, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center. He was the last survivor of his immediate family. Born in Greenwood Co., he was the son of the late Julius and Bessie Gilchrist Andrews. He was a member of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Greenwood, and a US Army Veteran of the Korean War. He was a retiree of the Tire Brick Co. in Philadelphia, PA, and also worked as a cement finisher.
In addition to his wife of the home, he is survived by 2 sons, Bobby Ray (Deloris) Terry and Henry P. Andrews Jr. of Philadelphia; 3 daughters, Lauree Goode (Melvin) Jones, Greenwood, Diane Terry and Jacqueline Andrews of Philadelphia; 11 grandchildren, with 1 raised in the home, Mark Andrews of Philadelphia; and 10 great-grandchildren. Service will be Thursday, noon, at Mt. Pisgah Baptist, with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Body will be in the church at 11 a.m.
Officiating minister is Rev. Otis Cunningham. Assisting are Revs. Curtis Bowman, Clyde Cannon, Joe Green and Leroy Robertson. The family will receive friends at the home from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Viewing will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Parks Funeral Home.
Parks Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Pastor Carrie Mae Davis

Pastor Carrie Mae Davis was called to rest on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007. She was born March 26, 1930 in McCormick County to the Rev. Hukin Quarles and the late Missionary Lillie Mae (Bussey) Quarles. She was married to the late Tommie Lewis, and to this union six children were born.
Preceding her in death was her loving husband, Elder Willie Davis and one son, Minister Marshall Lewis.
She leaves to cherish her memories her children, Mrs. Rosa Lewis Nimmons of North Carolina, Minister Charles T. Lewis, Sr. (Francine) of Greenwood, Mrs. W. Pearl Wilkinson (Herman) of Springfield, MA, Evangelist Mary Freeman (Radell) and Mrs. Regina Bovill, both of Greenwood; a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Patricia Lewis, also of Greenwood; a stepdaughter, Missionary Mary Wilson of E. Orange, N.J.; two sisters, Evangelist Margaret Harling and Evangelist Nellie Williams, both of Springfield, MA.
Mother Davis leaves 31 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren; and 6 great-great-grandchildren. She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends to celebrate her memories.
Homegoing services will be held Friday, March 2, 2007 at the Church of God, 2507 Highway 25, South Main, at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Evening Star Cemetery.
The family will receive friends on Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Parks Funeral Home, 514 Hackett Avenue, Greenwood.
The family is at the home, 213 Piedmont St., Greenwood.
Parks Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Beatrice Reid

Beatrice Reid, 71, of 522 Hall Street, wife of Paul W. Reid, passed away Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in Abbeville, she was a daughter of the late Willie Williams and Mary L. Williams. She was a graduate of Brewer High School, a member of Salem Baptist Church and a member of the gospel chorus and the usher board.
She is survived by, in addition to her husband of the home, a nephew, Terry Walker, who was reared in the home.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Thursday at Salem Baptist Church, with Rev. Tony Blackmon officiating. Burial will be in Pine Grove A.M.E. Church Cemetery. Flower bearers and pallbearers will be friends of the family. The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m.
The family is at the home. Percival-Tompkins Funeral Home is assisting the Reid family.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at pertompfh1@earthlink.net.

Mary Grace Amanda Sanders

CALHOUN FALLS — Mary Grace Amanda “Auntie” Sanders, 97, of Savannah Heights Center, formerly of Calhoun Falls, died Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007.
Ms. Sanders was born June 3, 1909 in Calhoun Falls to the late Morris and Lillie Hester Sanders. She was housekeeper for former CF Mayor Claude Simpson and a member of Glovers AME Church.
Survivors include a sister, Liddell Williams of McCormick; four nieces reared in the home, Willie Greene, Betty Williams, Gloria (Jessie) Dennis and Samantha Turman.
Services are 1 p.m. Friday at Glovers AME Church, Calhoun Falls, conducted by Rev. Larry Merrill. The family is at the home of Jessie and Gloria Dennis, 227 Seneca Circle.
Friendly Funeral Home is assisting the Sanders family.

GHS’ Anderson boots team to win over Vikes

February 28, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

Jacovie Anderson scored a game-high two goals Tuesday night in the Eagles’ 4-1 victory over the Emerald Vikings.
It was the teams’ first of two meetings this season. Eagles coach John Kinard was pleased with his young team’s effort. “We’re real young this year. We’re building, but we’ve made a lot progress since the beginning of our scrimmage season,” Kinard said. “We’ve graduated 23 seniors in the last two years, so we’re very proud of the boys and their effort tonight. Emerald’s got a very solid team and they’ll be right in the mix of things in their region.”
The Vikings were in a position to take the lead at the 34-minute, 5-second mark after the Eagles’ goal keeper, Matt Adams, fell down. The opportunity disappeared quickly, though, as the Vikings missed two shots on goal, and the game remained scoreless.
The Eagles responded with a shot by Eladio Montero with 28:03 remaining on the clock, but his attempt was off target. Less than a minute later, Anderson’s first goal of the game was not off target as he sent a shot right down the middle, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
MacKenzie Tharpe pushed the lead to 2-0 with 23:34 remaining on the clock when he directed a deflected pass into the Vikings’ net.
The Vikings cut into the deficit, thanks to a goal by Ernesto Fiqueroa at the 11:09 mark of the first half, when he was able to get behind Adams for the score.
The Vikings still trailed by two at the half following a penalty kick by the Eagles’ Patrick Hobson at 6:48.
Anderson ended the scoring for the Eagles late in the second half when he scored with 3:21 remaining in the game.
His shot ricocheted of the right post for the 4-1 lead.
Vikings coach Brad Nickles said that his team didn’t come out to play like they should have.
“We missed a wakeup call and were shell-shocked. I’ve seen this numerous times, especially with Greenwood,” Nickles said. “The second half we played well, but we didn’t put our chances away early on and they took advantage of it. You can’t spot a team like this two goals right away like we did being shell-shocked. Overall, we showed character and I’m pleased with that, but we’ve got to continue to get better each week.”

Lady Eagles top rival Lady Vikes

February 28, 2007

By RENALDO STOVER
Index-Journal sports writer

The Emerald Lady Vikings faced the Greenwood Lady Eagles in a rivalry match-up at Frank Hill Stadium on Tuesday night that was scoreless after the first half of play.
Katy Hoover gave the Lady Eagles their only goal of the night, while goal keeper Emily McWhorter kept the Lady Vikings scoreless in the Lady Eagles’ 1-0 victory.
Lady Eagles coach George Sugden said his came out stagnant and flat in the first half.
“The first half was absolutely atrocious,” Sugden said. “That’s why instead of taking a rest at halftime we did drills to kind of wake them (Lady Eagles) up a little bit. We had a poor warm-up which kind of surprised me. This being a cross-town rival, you’d think that you’d get jacked up and ready for them. We had a nice little talk and re-warm-up at halftime, and we came out with a different team.”
At the 2-minute, 6-second mark of the first half, Caroline Callison broke away from the defense, but came up empty on her attempt to put the Lady Vikings on the scoreboard.
The Lady Eagles came out reenergized in the second half, taking two shots on goal in the first six minutes, but came up empty both times.
Hoover changed at the 17:20 mark, when her shot went over the outstretched arms of Lady Vikings goal keeper Racheal Baggett for the only score of the game.
“There was a lot of defense to get through and we finally started getting balls wide,” Sugden said. “Finally we started deflecting things through and looking for combination play. You can’t do that for 15 or 20 minutes though and expect to win the game. We’re very fortunate to come out with this win.”
The Lady Eagles almost had a 2-0 lead at the 15:12 mark of the second half, but Hoover’s shot went off the crossbar.
“I think both the teams did really well, and it was really competitive,” Hoover said. “Our team just kind of stuck together and kept at it, and I just thought we did really good. I’m not really sure how I got the shot, I just remember shooting it.”
The Lady Vikings had their best offensive opportunity to tie the game come up empty at the 4:17 mark of the second half and the Lady Eagles held on for the win.
“We knew they had a lot of young, talented players and we’ve got young, talented players also. It was going to be a difficult game no matter what way you looked at it,” Lady Vikings coach Gary Winchester said. “A lot of things that were done in the game, a lot of the ball movement was about scrappy play but at times there was a lot of good soccer played by both teams.”

Opinion

Clinton, Obama, the GOP and winning black vote

February 28, 2007

New York Senator Hillary Clinton, Democratic presidential candidate, appears to be getting a leg up in South Carolina on fellow senator and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama of Illinois.
That doesn’t mean, though, that Obama, who is black, is conceding the black vote in this state to Senator Clinton, who has wooed black voters very hard. In fact, he got a lot of attention in his most recent trip to this state.
When the final tally comes - it’s still a year away - it should be clear whether her early standing translates into votes when it counts most. Who knows? By then, anything can happen.
However, there hardly seems any doubt that most of the African-American vote in the Palmetto State will be Democratic. History argues for that.

WHETHER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, including Mitt Romney, Senator John McCain, Senator Sam Brownback, Rep. Duncan Hunter, Gov. Mike Huckabee and others, not to mention Democratic Senators Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Gov. Bill Richardson and others will surrender the black vote by default is not a sure thing.
The black vote has been a Democratic lock for years. That’s no surprise, and, no doubt, Senators Clinton and Obama are counting on that still. It may well turn out that one of them will get the majority or they might even split the vote.
There has been a more dedicated effort by the Republican Party, however, to convince many black voters that there is a place for them in the GOP and that most issues are no longer considered simply black, Democratic, Republican or any other kind of issue, but are people issues.

REPUBLICANS SAY MORE BLACK voters understand that and realize the GOP does indeed have something to offer them. They say that more and more African-Americans are thinking about issues and deciding for themselves which party represents their beliefs. Therefore, the GOP believes, black voters cannot be taken for granted by Democratic candidates any more.
Time will tell, of course. The South Carolina primary, one of the nation’s earliest, will give a good indication whether work by the Republican Party to make inroads into the historic black vote has had any effect.
At the moment, it doesn’t appear that’s happening, considering the interest Senators Clinton and Obama have created.
The election’s a long way off, though, and, as they say in love and war, anything’s possible. If politics these days isn’t war, it’s close.